Clocks and Contradictions

  

I am never the type to post selfies on my social media profiles but I enjoy posting my handmade musings online. I can sometimes be quiet and not give my thoughts but I wear my heart on my sleeves in sharing my life's adventures and misadventures. I can be timid and extremely shy but when I'm in the groove, I become quite the opposite. Just like what you'll see in this clip. Yep, that is me all excited and giddy. :)

I hope that you'll enjoy this video segment I did for GMA News TV's Good Vibes.

xoxo,
Koni

{Craft Workshop} Craft Tambay Part 2

Our first ever Craft Tambay was a lot of fun! I met new friends of different ages and had a blast sharing my craft expertise. I saw how people who are eager to learn new things, regardless of their current abilities, will learn a lot and will enjoy every minute of the process.  It was a very exciting and fruitful session indeed.

With eager hearts, my friends and I are back and will be hosting another Craft Tambay! This time we will be teaching 4 crafts in 2 different venues.  Learn paper flower making, decoupage, brush calligraphy, and lettering.

I hope that you can share a fun-filled afternoon with Cathy, Ella, Geli, and me. Let’s Craft Tambay!

To sign up, you may email me at candidlypretty@yahoo.com or fill up this form.

See you there! :)

The DIY Bride Workshop

A couple of weeks ago, at a quaint tea shop on Maginhawa Street, 10 girls met, made pretty things by hand, had fun, and drank yummy milk tea. :) This aptly summarizes The DIY Bride Workshop last June 21.

The workshop started early. It was a warm and sunny Saturday morning, a perfect time to mingle and learn a thing or two about arts and crafts. As always, everybody was very friendly, giggly, and excited. After all, not only was the workshop intended to teach handmade wedding details, it was also a venue to meet acquaintances and make new friends.

Each participant received a kit filled with craft materials such as pretty cotton fabrics, lace fabrics, garterized and hard headbands, alligator clips, brooch pins, covered buttons, rhinestones and embellishments, scrapbook papers, and a lot more.

It was indeed a busy morning. Everyone was enthusiastic to try and make as I teach them techniques I learned over the years. The girls made 3 different styles of fabric flowers and a paper flower. I showed them the basics of making headbands, boutonnieres, bouquets, wedding garters, and corsages. To encourage them more to make and create, I also shared tips on preparing a DIY wedding and where to source craft materials.

It was a surprise that 8 of these lovely ladies came from the south, as far as Cavite, Batangas and Mindoro! You don't know how happy and touched I am that you traveled far and shared your precious time. It was such an honor to be your teacher. :)

To Sam, Hannah, Ahzel, Yela, Prim, Charie, Vine, Jen, and Boni, it was a pleasure crafting with you!

Until we see again, all the best! :)

Much love,

Koni

P.S. 

Gratitude to the talented Ella Lama, for our pretty poster and for giving our participants a 10% discount on customized wedding invitation suite, to Tea Please, our venue partner.

I never would have done this without the love and support of my better half, thank you Mr. Esteban! Of course, to the Almighty Father for always letting the universe conspire to help us achieve our dreams. :) 

{Craft Workshop} The DIY Bride

It will be a fun-filled and exciting Saturday morning. :) Can't wait to meet the lovely ladies who will  participating The DIY Bride Workshop. xoxo

{Intimate Event} Mavi's Merry Christening

 

Mavi is a beautiful baby girl with the looks of an angel. She's a definite source of happiness! It has been a pleasure to be a part of this very important day of her life, her baptism, her merry Christening! :)

Her mom chose pastel colors and gold as her motiff. Don't you just love this color combination?

Preparing these floral arrangements in gold-painted bottles as centerpieces was a joy!

 

We arranged pompoms and paper lanterns in these pretty pastel colors as ceiling decorations.

Another handmade backdrop! Paper chains are so fun to make. :)

This chalkboard art was made by a good friend, Ella. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

Until our next craft adventure! Ciao! :)

The Return of The Happy Meal, a PR Launch

Four score and seven years ago, well, alright, a few months ago, I was invited to style Mc Donald's PR launch for the return of the Happy Meal's TV commercial. Of course, I obliged and welcomed the challenge. The theme we worked on was dainty afternoon tea which is one of my fave styles. I couldn't be more excited!

I made tea cup and tea pot arrangements using lysianthus, snapdragons, two-toned carnations, and a couple of succulents.

How adorable are these table setting?! As you may have noticed, I really am addicted to floral prints.

The attendees had a lot of fun! So did I!

Can't waste an opportunity to have a picture taken with this guy.

As always, The Husband has been so supportive and helpful. Thank you very much Mr. Esteban for being my all-around assistant/photographer  :) Couldn't have done it without you.

Relax Mode On: Working Mom Magazine February 2014

  

Once again, thank you Working Mom magazine for sending over your February 2014 issue. Thank you ladies!!! :)

Can't be more excited to read this page to page! Aside from interesting and helpful articles, illustration and typography works of a  good friend, Ella, is published here! If you've been following my craft adventures (and misadventures), you'll remember her as the maker of pretty posters and artworks for my workshops as seen here and here! I am one happy girl!!! Thank you so much Ella for sharing your time and talent with me. I'll definitely have this issue autographed by her!!!! Fan-girl mode on! :)

Relax Mode On: Working Mom Magazine December 2013 / January 2014

A great read to start the year right. :) Thank you to the beautiful ladies of ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. for sending a copy of Working Mom Magazine's December 2013 / January 2014.

Jeric, Jeron and Mommy Susan Teng grace its cover. Flipping through its pages, I found articles on planning the perfect holiday party, inspiring dessert tables, foolproof ways on how to always look great on family portraits, ways to pamper your skin post-party and quick beauty tips on hiding the holiday stress. Features on makeover tips from getting your dream wardrobe, changing the way you snack to getting your house in order are all very helpful and insightful.

Can't wait to get a hold of February's issue!

Of hooks and duct tapes

2013 passed by ever so swiftly. It was a year of listening to one's heart, pursuing dreams and taking risks. I would not have known despite my fears and doubts that an ounce of courage will go a long way. God opens doors and windows of opportunities to those willing to accept them.

One of the wonderful blessings I've been given last year was to be a part of Good Housekeeping's Home-mazing Ideas by 3M. To be invited as an expert and facilitator was a dream come true! The first leg kicked off at the Ayala Town Center. Workshops were also held at The Columns Legazpi Village, One Serendra, SM Lanang Premier Davao, Robinsons Manila and ended at Corinthian Gardens.

I shared tips on how to make homes clutter-free, organize storage, and decorate using Command Damage-Free Hanging Solutions. A hands-on workshop followed where I taught various crafts made from Scotch Duct Tapes.

These series of workshops gave me beautiful memories and new friends. I'm grateful that through this God has added another ounce of courage in me to believe more in my dreams and take risks.

Let me end this post by sharing a quote from one of my favorite books, The Passion, by Jeanette Winterson, "You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play. It’s the playing that’s irresistible. Dicing from one year to the next with the things you love, what you risk reveals what you value."